BOGOTA – The leader of the ELN Jose David Suarez, alias Carro Loco, died in a clash with the Colombian Army in a rural area of Agua Azul, in the eastern department of Casanare, according to military sources on Saturday.

The armed clash took place in Retiro Milagro village in Agua Azul, as part of a joint operation with the Air Force, the Police and the Attorney General, the army said in a statement.

Two rifles, arms and ammunition were confiscated in the operation.

Carro Loco had been in the National Liberation Army (ELN) for more than 20 years and was currently in charge of structures of the guerrilla group in Casanare, added the statement.

According to military intelligence data, he was involved in the killings of 11 military personnel and the kidnapping of one more in a rural area of Chitaga municipality, in the eastern department of Norte de Santander, in May 2013.

The guerrilla leader was wounded in the military offensive and evacuated by the National Army troops to be taken to the hospital in Yopal, the departmental capital, where he died.

The Colombian government and the ELN, the country’s last active guerrilla group, will begin a 101-day ceasefire at midnight on Sunday, which is the biggest achievement of peace talks that began in February in Quito.

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